Houston Water Testing

Even if Houston’s water meets federal standards, that does not always mean your household water is free from concern. Legal limits for many contaminants have not been updated in years, and some substances found in Houston’s supply, including chromium-6, arsenic, and disinfection byproducts, are still flagged by independent health researchers at levels above their recommended guidelines. Water can also pick up additional contaminants as it travels through aging pipes or home plumbing systems. Testing gives you a clearer picture of what is actually coming out of your tap so you can make informed decisions for your home and family.

Read more: Why Drinking Water Sickens a Million Americans a Year.

About 86.5% of Houston's water supply comes from surface water sources including Lake Houston and the Trinity River system. Surface water is more vulnerable to seasonal contamination shifts, agricultural runoff, storm events, and industrial discharge than groundwater. When that water is disinfected with chloramines and chlorine, it reacts with naturally occurring organic matter to form trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids. Heavy flooding events like Hurricane Harvey have also disturbed Superfund sediments along the San Jacinto River, introducing industrial compounds into the regional water network. Our Contaminant Glossary covers what each substance is and why it matters.

Proximity to the Ship Channel and the broader petrochemical corridor along the Texas Gulf Coast puts residents at elevated risk for industrial contaminants in both municipal water and private wells. PFAS from firefighting foam and industrial discharge has been detected in surface water sources feeding Houston's treatment plants. Legacy Superfund sites in Harris County have introduced solvents and heavy metals into local groundwater. The closer your property is to industrial activity, the stronger the case for a comprehensive screening that goes beyond a basic test.

Read more: PFAS Is Not Going Away.

Yes. The most common contaminants found in Harris County private wells, including bacteria, arsenic, nitrates, iron, manganese, and industrial solvents in areas near legacy dump sites, produce no reliable sensory signals. Following Hurricane Harvey, 60% of private well samples collected across affected Texas counties came back positive for total coliform and E. coli. Wells that showed no visible signs of damage were among those affected. Our PFAS "Forever Chemical" Drinking Water Test and full well panels are both available for Harris County well owners.

Yes, in practice. North Houston and the communities around it sit closer to agricultural operations and some of the region's legacy industrial zones, which increases the likelihood of nitrate, pesticide, and solvent contamination in private wells. South Houston and areas near the Ship Channel carry higher industrial contamination risk. The aquifer systems underlying Harris County also vary by location. The Ultimate Water Test covers 249 substances and is the most thorough option regardless of which part of the metro you are in. If you want a recommendation tailored to your specific area, contact us before ordering and one of our experts will point you in the right direction. Our Well and City Water FAQ also covers the most common regional scenarios.